MR. PERRY S ADDRESS. 7 



By the doings of this society the public are furnished with the 

 knowledge of facts connected with experimental farming. In the 

 introduction of new or foreign articles of produce, and trials of 

 new modes of culture and manufacture, there must be more or 

 less risk. Till trial has been made, no one can know with cer- 

 tainty what effect change of climate, soil, and other surrounding 

 circumstances may produce. This risk a large portion of the 

 community are not able to take upon themselves to any consider- 

 able extent. For should the labor of the year be expended 

 upon an unsuccessful experiment, they would in the end be 

 pressed for the necessaries of life. With the public spirit and 

 praiseworthy enterprise of the wealthy and scientific farmers of 

 the county, there is hardly a call for them to make experiments. 

 These are made for them, and with such precision in the opera- 

 tion, and accuracy of record, that any one may judge with all 

 necessary certainty whether he can with advantage adopt them 

 or not. In this respect the people of this county are pecuHarly 

 favored, for there are spread over the county, farms, embracing a 

 great variety of soil, owned and improved by wealthy, enterpris- 

 ing and scientific men, who cultivate them as a means of rational 

 enjoyment, conducive alike to health of body, vigor of mind, and 

 refinement in moral feeling. Of this class of farms, may be nam- 

 ed those of 



Gorham Parsons, at Byfield. 



William Bartlett, at Methuen. 



Frederick Howes, at Beverly. 



James H. Duncan, at Haverhill. 



E. H. Derby, and the > ^ 



Pickman farm, J ^^ ^^^^'''• 



And many others of similar character. 



These farms may all be regarded as experimental farms, or, I 

 might say, agricultural laboratories, owned and managed to be sure 

 by individuals, but from the manner in which they are conducted 

 scarcely less advantageous to the community than if they were 

 public institutions ; for the whole operations upon them are open 

 constantly to public inspection, where every one of sober conduct 

 may see for himself and learn, without money and without labor. 



